On Saturday, March 1, 2008, Rohrer Fine Art will present Headers, an exhibition of works by Chinese artist Zeng Jianyong. The artist will be in attendance that evening from 6-8 p.m.
Zeng has a unique style and subject matter, both of which he exploits to their fullest potential in his Header Series. In China, the term Header, refers to the title that is granted to the highest-achieving children in each class at school, a coveted position that parents often pressure their children into working extraordinarily hard to win.
This series of paintings depicts children that stare out from the canvas with expressions that suggest a combination of innocence and anxiety. One is reminded of the travails of childhood and of the difficulty children face in learning to navigate a world that operates beyond their understanding and without their consent. Zeng seems to imply that although Headers enjoy a certain level of prestige, they are often envied by their classmates, who taunt and bully them. In the paintings, the children's frightened eyes and sprawling red marks, suggestive of physical abuse, attest to the realities they face.
Zeng's interest in this subject arose from the very personal experience of watching his young son attend school. As a result of this close encounter, Zeng developed a sense of sympathy and compassion for these youth who spend their time seeking to appease their parents, rather than enjoying a carefree childhood. In spite of the pressures they face, however, the children in his paintings still retain a measure of childhood innocence that will not be overcome. The Header Series is compelling because it captures this tension of childhood by creating portraits that are intimate and very honest.
Rohrer Fine Art presents and promotes a global spectrum of art and design in a unique format highlighting rare and breathtaking art of the last 2000 years. The gallery is located at 346 North Coast Highway in Laguna Beach and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, please call 1-800-949-5211.
